Sika deer (Cervus Nippon) and Wild boar (Sus scrofa) Alter their Diurnal and Seasonal Activity Patterns in Residential Areas
ELHAM Nasratullah1, Hosaka Tetsuro1, Miyabi Nakabayashi2

1 Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University
2 Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a global issue exacerbated by human activities and ecological factors. In Japan, the growth of wildlife populations, particularly sika deer and wild boar, leads to crop damage in semi-natural areas. Understanding their ecology and behaviors is crucial for addressing this issue. Accurately estimating the times and seasons when these species enter residential areas can help implement preventive measures and prevent wildlife from entering residential areas. Therefore, this study investigated the seasonal and diel activity patterns of sika deer and wild boar in residential areas in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima. To end this, a camera trap study was conducted from March 2022 to December 2024, capturing 1185 events for sika deer and 69 for wild boars. Data was collected from 6015 working days for the cameras. The study found that sika deer's seasonal and daily activity patterns in residential areas changed, with higher levels activity during spring and winter but a decrease in summer. Their activity was predominantly nocturnal and twilight hours. Wild boar's activity patterns did not show significant seasonal shifts but exhibited nocturnal patterns. This study provides novel insights into the temporal activity patterns of sika deer and wild boar in response to their extending habitats, and the higher activity of sika deer during spring could be influenced by energy demands and food quality, especially low-fiber, broad-leafed species in lowland areas. whereas lower activity patterns in summer are more likely to be associated with temperature rise, as deer prefer to move to forests and high elevations, and dietary preferences that elevated grazing contribute. Moreover, the rise in their activity in winter is potentially affected by snow depth, habitat quality, and climatic change, urging deer to move to residential areas. On the other hand, the results for wild boar were non-significant between residential and hilly locations, suggesting be due to lack of samples (n=69). On the hand, the nocturnal activity and twilight activity by both species, in residential areas indicate wild animals avoid to enter in human settlement areas because human presence.



Keywords: Human-wildlife conflict, Camera trap, Animal behavior, Crop damage